Introduction

At some point in their existence, typically soon aĞer their very establishment, all states interacting in the international system throughout the history of the world have had to formulate and implement foreign policies. Such policies are designed as a means for a state to pursue its interests in a variety of issue areas, ranging from economics and politics to culture, justice and security. This has been the case for states in geographic regions across the globe, with disparate cultural traditions, economic and political conditions and security challenges that require a response. It was true when the city-states of Athens and Sparta competed for control over the classical Greek civilization and remains accurate in the contemporary international system in which American policy makers design strategies to further US interests every day.